Pressing pad



Aug. 4, 1936.

C. E. GALVIN PRESSING PAD Filed June 30, i953 Patented Aug. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRESSING PAD Application June 30, 1933, Serial No. 678,483

- 2 Claims.

' This invention relates to resilient pads of metallic wool and particularly to marginal reinforcement and confinement of the fibrous body.

The of steel wool pads for ironing and machines, for filters, and for resilient .as become quite general. Such pads prise layers of matted, tangled or felted metallic shavings or fibrous strands, such as are disclosed in the patent to Marx, No. 1,312,641, or they may comprise mats of knitted or woven metallic wool fabric wherein the metallic strands or fibersare systematically arranged as disclosed in patents to Galvin, No. 1,773,455 and No. 1,826,395.

Under pressure, to which such pads are subjected, particularly in an ironing or pressing machine, the fibrous material tends to become displaced, working outwardly toward the edge and the pad expands marginally or stretches, becoming thinner in the middle and causing uneven pressure resulting in unironed or, rough dry spots. If unconfined, there is some tendency for the woven or knitted metallic wool mats to likewise stretch or become distorted, but not to the same degree nor with such objectionable results as do the tangled or felted wool pads. It is desirable, however, that such woven or knitted pads also be marginally reinforced.

Attempts have been made to impart form retaining characteristics to such pads, as is shown in the patent to Marx mentioned supra, wherein tie wires are extended in various directions through the mass of steel wool. At a later time felted or tangled steel wool pads such as shown by Marx have been sewed to a coextensive wire mesh cloth or screen to enable them to hold their shape.

There is also a tendency for steam to blow out or other fluids to escape through the margins of an unbound pad.

The present invention differs from such prior efforts by providing a marginal binding of nonelastic material, preferably as asbestos cloth for ironing and pressing machine use, which is secured by a metallic wire stitching, but which may be other material including a metal strip clamping or gripping the wool material under tension. The object of the invention is to improve and reinforce metallic wool pads whereby they will not be materially increased in cost, but will be more eflicient in use, of increased durability, and form retaining character and of uniform resiliency.

A further object of the invention is to provide a marginal reinforcement for a metallic wool pad, which will not interfere with its use nor decrease -A further object is to provide a metallic wool 10 pad having the advantageous characteristics and features hereinafter described.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view, as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of the feal5 tures of construction-the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the drawing, wherein are shown the prem :ierred, but obviously not the only forms of embodiment of the invention, Fig. l is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a metallic wool pad embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a tresmentary view, showing the invention applied to as a woven or knitted metallic pad. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of a modification.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views. I

While the fibrous metallic pad herein considered is ordinarily formed from very fine hair or fiber like shavings stripped from steel wire and hence known as steel woo such pads are not limited to steel material but are made from copper, bronze. aluminum and other metals, to all oi. which, however, the term steel wool" is more or less generically applied and is to be considered hereinas including metallic fibrous material other than steel.

not of uniform character throughout. However without being confined, the material will not long hold its shape but will tend. to flow or shift away from the areas or greater pressure toward the margins which are thereby extended and the pad.

distorted. To reinforce and confine the material, the edge of the pad I is enclosed in a binding strip 2 which is preferably of flexible but inelastic material.

For use on ironing and pressing machines where the pad is subjected to high temperatures, asbestos cloth has been found to be a desirable material for the binding strip. Wire mesh cloth may also be employed, and for other conditions of use, canvas or similar fabricmay be used.

This binding strip is turned into channel form about the margin of the pad which it overlaps above and below, and is secured by wire stitching 3. when not subjected to high temperatures, as when used for filter purposes, the canvas or other fabric binding may be secured by threads or sewing material other than wire. In either construction the binding may be stapled at intervals instead of being stitched.

For certain conditions of use it is desirable to provide a channel shaped binding or frame of sheet metal 4 which may be caused to grip or clamp the margins of the pad under inherent tension. In such event, teeth or serrations 5 on the binding strip or spurs 6 struck therefrom and having anchor engagement in the body of material assist in holding the parts in unitaryrelation. The marginal binder strip, whether of fabric or metal prevents the pad stretching which permits development of areas of ununiform thickness resulting in pressing machines in rough dry" or unironed spots and less resistant areas or those of greater porosity, all of which are obviated by the present addition.

When used on steam pressing machines, there is a tendency for steam to flow out through the edge of an unbound 'pad and for liquids orgases to escape when used for filter purposes. To prevent such escape of steam or other fluids, a liner 1 of impervious material is preferably, although not always necessarily, interposed interiorly of the asbestos, wire mesh or fabric binder-strip. This liner 1 is ordinarily made from closely woven canvas and is secured by the same stitching 3 by which the binder strip 2 is attached.

While a pad of tapered form having rounded ends has been illustrated, it is to be understood that these pads are made in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, suitable for the particular purpose for which they are used.

For conveniently securing the pad upon a pressing machine or other support tie members are provided which extend through the body of the pad from one margin to the other substantially in the plane thereof the ends of which, beyond the margins of the pad, are adapted to be tied about the support. The ties preferably comprise wires 8 inserted transversely through the body of the pad and provided with terminal eyes 9 beyond the margins of the pad in which tie strands I are secured for tying the pad to its support, If so desired the wires 8 may be made of sufficient length to serve as tie members in lieu of .the strands l0.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from-the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute, the

invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture a pad of metallic wool and wires extending transversely of the pad through the body thereof, terminal eyes in said wires beyond the margins of the pad and tie strands attached in said eyes for securing the pad to a support.

2. As an article of manufacture, a pad of metallic wool and transversely disposed tie members transfixing the pad parallel to the surface of the pad and extending beyond the opposite margins thereof for attaching the pad to a support.

CHAS. E. GALVIN. 

